Yaxeni was born the youngest of nine children (four brothers and four sisters). Yaxeni won four amateur contests in 1993, earning her pro card in the process. She then moved to the United States.

Her most noteworthy achievement as a professional has been winning the Ms. Olympia title in 2005.

She has also won five Ms. International titles, in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2012. At a height of 5 ft 7 in, her contest weight is typically around 160 lb, though she weighs around 185 lb during the off-season. She now lives in Miami Beach, Florida with her husband and son, and works as a personal trainer at Crunch in South Beach.